Rome: Ancient & Baroque

ROME

After breakfast, we get to know this fabulous city in earnest, taking a sightseeing tour. The monuments are legendary: there is the Trevi fountain, a huge gush of water, streaming from a natural spring over immense rocks, built onto the side of a Renaissance palace. Legend has it you must toss a coin into it, thus ensuring you make a return visit to this most beguiling of cities.

Then there is the Piazza Navona, Rome’s most famous square, as picturesque as any in Italy, lined by cafés and restaurants. You must stroll down the instantly recognisable, 18th century Spanish Steps; in the past, the haunt of artists’ models and now simply the place to be seen. At the bottom is the Piazza di Spagna, home to the poet Keats and visited by Milton, Byron and Shelley – all drawing inspiration from the uniqueness which is Rome.

The afternoon is free for you to explore as you wish.

ANCIENT ROME & COLOSSEUM

Holding sway over much of the ancient world for 500 years, Rome was the greatest empire of its time. Legend has it that the city was founded by Romulus and Remus on seven hills. After subduing the neighbouring tribes and the Carthaginians by the second century BC, it became the dominant power in the Mediterranean. Ruled firstly by a series of consuls, then subsequently probably the most famous Roman of all, Julius Caesar, followed by a series of Emperors, each wanted their place in history. Between them they created a unique legacy, the remains of which we see today: the forum, the house of the Vestal Virgins, temples to all the gods, Jupiter, Mars, Venus and even ‘foreign’ ones too like Isis and Diana. Then there are the law courts and the Podium where news of military conquests was announced to an eager public. Then on the nearby Palatine Hill are the remains of the opulent villas of the elite, including the Emperor. Next to this are the immense Caracalla Baths, a veritable Roman leisure centre, plus two of the most famous centres of ‘entertainment’ the world has ever known: the Circus Maximus and the Colosseum. Ancient Rome was a truly remarkable place!

This morning we see all of this and more on our fascinating guided tour, with the remainder of the day free for you to explore at your leisure.

VILLA BORGHESE

The morning is free for you to explore as you wish, but while in Rome you must visit a truly unique place – the Vatican, an independent state and, of course, home to the Pope and the largest church in the world, Saint Peter’s Basilica. Inside, the Sistine Chapel is a pinnacle of human achievement and the largest painting ever created by one man, the genius Michelangelo. This is quite simply the largest, richest and most extraordinary such museum complex on earth, containing so many artefacts from the city’s past. Many of the finest artists of the Renaissance worked for a variety of popes, but there are other displays too: Egyptian antiquities, furniture, sculpture and silverware.

This afternoon, we enjoy a timed reserved visit to the Villa Borghese, whose delightful gardens form the city’s largest park. Most famously it houses one of the world’s greatest collections of fine art including outstanding works by Raphael, with another pavilion housing the national modern art museum.

The outstanding Villa Giulia is home to the world’s most outstanding collection of Etruscan and ancient Roman artefacts. Its other ceramic and glass items, in almost perfect condition, are displayed next to stunning gold jewellery studded with precious stones, crafted in the most skilful manner. Then there are everyday items too: agricultural implements and cooking utensils, coins, brooches, remains of clothing, leather-wear – even portable wash stands. In fact many are remarkably similar to household items used today. This is a wonderful museum where you can truly lose yourself, but above all it is a poignant reminder that no matter how grand a civilisation is and however sophisticated a race believe themselves to be, in reality we are all very similar and throughout history we have all wanted the same things.

RETURN FLIGHT

Today the coach will take you to Rome airport, at the appropriate time, to take your return flight home, after a really memorable tour.